Australian Open Day 1: Bouchard advances, Pospisil eliminated

Dec 20 2017, 3:40 am

It was a good news, bad news day for Canadians on the first day of the Australian Open.

Eugenie Bouchard advanced in straight sets (6-3, 6-4) over Aleksandra Krunic of Serbia.

Bouchard isn’t seeded in this tournament, but there is reason for optimism. Ranked 37th, she advanced to the quarterfinal of last year’s Australian Open, and made it to the semis in 2014. Bouchard also made it to the final of the Hobart International, her final tune-up tournament before the Aussie Open.

Bouchard will face the 4th seed, Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland, in the second round.

News wasn’t so good for Vancouver’s Vasek Pospisil. The 39th ranked player in the tournament, Pospisil had a tough first round matchup against the 14th seed, Gilles Simon of France. After winning the first set, Pospisil lost the next three (6-7, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4). His focus will turn to the doubles tournament for the remainder of his time in Melbourne. Pospisil, along with his doubles partner Jack Sock, won the Wimbledon doubles tournament last year.

Milos Raonic’s tournament will begin on Day 2, against 90th ranked Lucas Pouille of France.

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